The Power of Corporate Confession

Corporate confession, a practice I first saw in a mainline church, greatly impacted me. Growing up in Charismatic and evangelical communities, confessing sins was usually a private thing between me and God or another person. But the idea of the whole church admitting they messed up together was intriguing.

However, suggesting a weekly routine for the entire church to confess seems like a bit much. Doing it that often takes away its power and makes it seem like the whole church is always doing something wrong. I don’t believe any church is sinning every single week. If that were true, it’s a big problem. While I know individuals, including myself, mess up regularly, it’s different for the whole church.

Confession should happen when there’s a genuine acknowledgment of wrongdoing. I confess my own mistakes regularly. Corporate confession, however, should be a rare but essential event for the church when they admit to doing something wrong, whether recently or a long time ago.

Many churches have made mistakes but never admitted them. This could be about how they treated outsiders, not being an excellent example in their city, mistreating their last pastor, spending money on things that don’t matter, putting up a flag that caused issues, or excluding certain groups. You get the idea.

A more impactful way to make this rare confession could be to make it a more significant event. Have a special day for confession with songs of lament, sermons about repentance and learning from mistakes, and a space for people to kneel, pray, and reflect.

Confession is a way to heal. If churches want to be whole, see themselves as still learning and growing, and show how they’re working towards making things right, they should confess together when needed.

Confession is a way to heal. If churches want to be whole, see themselves as still learning and growing, and show how they're working towards making things right, they should confess together when needed. Share on X

If you’re a church leader and you know something was done wrong, whether recently or a long time ago, talk to the elders and figure out how to confess it. Plan how to tell everyone, admit the mistake, hope to make things right, ask for forgiveness, and learn from it. Don’t just stick it somewhere in the church service. Some churches involve everyone by having them repeat a prayer together, making it a group effort.

Also, listen to what other prophets and ministers outside your church are saying. Throughout history, God used them to get people’s attention. Think about what message God might send to your church through these external voices. It’s essential to leading a church toward growth and being responsible.

Impact Beyond Church Walls

As I’ve discussed, corporate confession holds the potential to transform not only the internal dynamics of a church but also its external role in society. Imagine a church that, through honest confession, becomes a stronger witness of love, justice, and service in its community. This act of humility and accountability might propel the church toward becoming more hospitable and charitable and embodying Jesus’ presence on earth.

Imagine a church that, through honest confession, becomes a stronger witness of love, justice, and service in its community. This act of humility and accountability might propel the church toward becoming more hospitable and… Share on X

Picture a church that, having confessed its wrongs, stands as a refuge for the hurting, a community for the lonely, and a source of hope for the hopeless. Acknowledging its imperfections, such a church becomes a source of compassion and support, radiating the transformative power of sincere confession. This isn’t just about making the church feel better about itself; it’s about actively making public what wrong it has done and its dependence on the grace of God.

Guiding the Church Towards Bold Preaching

Moreover, as the church engages in corporate confession, it may find the boldness to preach not just comforting messages but challenging ones – holiness, repentance, and judgment. This honesty about its shortcomings empowers the church to address societal issues with a commitment to transformation guided by divine principles.

In essence, the practice of corporate confession, when extended beyond the church walls, has the potential to significantly impact the world around it. It’s not just about an inward reflection but an outward expression of a commitment to change for God’s sake and a catalyst for transformation in the broader community.

If you’re looking to or planning on having such a kind of service, use the doc below.

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